Vikings running back Adrian Peterson fell quite a ways short of the NFL single-season rushing record in 2013.

Last fall I ventured into the land of the unknown and took stabs at what would transpire this NFL season. The idea was to be bold, throw as much stuff on the wall and hope something sticks. It can get messy.

After weeks and weeks of hard work by our favorite players, the report card has come in. And now it's time to take a bath.

Prediction: The Packers won't have a 1,000-yard runner.

What happened: Rookie Eddie Lacy ran for 1,178 yards, played in the Pro Bowl and was named the Pro Football Writers Association Rookie of the Year.

Upside: Lacy didn't run for 2,000 yards - that would have really looked bad.

Upside: Two things; Peterson is not super-human (most important) and history really, truly does repeat itself (meaning the winter of 2013-14 will come our way again at some point, sorry about that). Anyway, of the six previous backs who ran for more than 2,000 yards in a season, none ran for even 1,500 the next season and they averaged nearly 800 fewer yards. As you can see, Peterson, who ran for 2,097 yards in 2012, is merely average.

Prediction: Colin Kaepernick will win the NFL MVP award.

What happened: The voting has not been officially announced but if Denver quarterback Peyton Manning is not the winner, the world will flip on its axis.

Upside: If Kaepernick can somehow convince the schedule makers to let him play the Packers every week, then he can start putting an addition on his house to hold all the trophies he will win.

Prediction: Redskins coach Mike Shanahan will be fired.

What happened: Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was fired.

Upside: Now we all get to see if quarterback Robert Griffin III can get new coach Jay Gruden fired.

Prediction: Tony Romo will win two playoff games this year, doubling his career total.

What happened: The Cowboys failed to make the playoffs after Romo, days before a win-or-go-home game with Philadelphia for the NFC's final playoff spot on the last week of the season, underwent back surgery.

Prediction: Cleveland, yes Cleveland, will qualify for the AFC playoffs.

What happened: The Browns missed the playoffs, finished 4-12 and fired their coach after just one season.

Upside: Lake Erie is meeting with the other Great Lakes to determine if Cleveland should be put under water permanently.

Prediction: Chip Kelly and the Eagles will have the most prolific offense in the NFC.

What happened: The Eagles had the most prolific in the NFC, and were second overall to Denver in the NFL.

Upside: I just want to thank Aaron Rodgers' collar bone, which stayed broken just long enough to make this prediction come true. Despite playing nearly eight full games without Rodgers, the Packers finished right behind the Eagles in the NFC in total offense.

Prediction: Peyton Manning will again be great in the regular season but disappoint in the postseason as Denver fails to reach the Super Bowl.

What happened: Manning was indeed great in the regular season, putting up MVP numbers. The Broncos will face Seattle in the Super Bowl.

Upside: Manning's shouts of "Omaha! Omaha!" during the playoffs created an unexpected buzz and helped - and will continue to help - raise money for his "Peyback Foundation," which supports disadvantaged youth. The Omaha Chamber of Commerce says it will, with the help of several local businesses, donate $1,500 for each time Manning yells "Omaha" in the Super Bowl.

Prediction: The Bears and Jay Cutler will go their separate ways.

What happened: Cutler signed a seven-year extension with the Bears, with $54 million guaranteed through the first three years of the deal.

Upside: Packers fans, needing a spiritual lift after getting blitzed by the 49ers yet again in the playoffs, are energized, knowing Cutler - who has a 1-9 career record against Green Bay - will be around to abuse for several more years.

Prediction: NFL owners will get their way and push through an 18-game regular-season schedule.

What happened: Nothing.

Upside: That's good news for the players, as it appears that instead of an 18-game regular season, the NFL will opt instead for an expanded playoff format to make their money.

Of course, some of that money will come from you. You'll still have to pay full freight for exhibition games and you'll continue to sit in sub-zero temps at 7 p.m. on a Saturday night in January to watch your team play in the postseason. To the NFL's way of thinking, everybody wins.

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Mike Woods column: NFL season thwarts crystal ball

Making predictions is like chewing glass ? it's just a bad idea.

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